The Federazione Italiana Rugby have announced a new main kit sponsor for the 2017/18 season, revealing the brand new home and away shirts from Italian sportswear company Macron.

The Azzuri join fellow Six Nations members Scotland in the Macron stable, in a monster eight-year deal that sees the FIR partnered with their fellow Italian brand until 2025.

In addition to the new partnership being announced, Macron and the FIR also took the opportunity to reveal the brand new Italy home shirts for 2017/18 – a classic sky blue home shirt with gold trim, and a white and gold change shirt.

“We are proud to be able to welcome Macron into our family, and excited to partner on our national jersey with brand that, like us, is determined to grow and emerge,” said Alfredo Gavazzi, president of the FIR.

“In choosing to commit ourselves to a sponsor for a long period of time, the Italian roots of our new partners played a particularly important role, as did the passion and affection shown by Macron for Italian sport.

Macron want to develop Italian rugby, and share with us a commitment to using new technologies, another aspect that has had for us a decisive role in the choice of sponsor. I am sure, it will give great satisfaction in and off the field. ”

Conor O’Shea’s men will wear their new kits for the first time in the November international series, but stay tuned to Rugby Shirt Watch for our full review of both jerseys in the coming days.